The differences in raw scores between two versions of the Standard Progressive Matrices Test (SPM) and differences in available norms for one version and the currently studied population were investigated. The SPM was originally designed to measure the general factor of intelligence unrestrained by language. Scores for the untimed SPM version…

In 1988, the Alaska State Board of Education adopted regulations requiring the selection and annual administration of a basic skills achievement test in reading, mathematics and language arts in grades 4, 6, and 8 for at least 6 consecutive years. During October, 1989. 95%, or 23,372 students in grades 4, 6, and 8 in Alaska's 54 school districts…

This study compared five density estimation techniques applied to samples from a population of 272,244 examinees' ACT English Usage and Mathematics Usage raw scores. Unsmoothed frequencies, kernel method, negative hypergeometric, four-parameter beta compound binomial, and Cureton-Tukey methods were applied to 500 replications of random samples of…

American College Testing Program (ACT) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) results are summarized for students in the Albuquerque (New Mexico) Public Schools (APS). Results indicate that for the 1984-85 school year, APS students' scores compare very well with national norms. APS mean ACT scores for the total group are above national averages for…

Findings are presented from a study designed to develop a physical education criterion reference test (CRT) and to devise norms for intellectually normal, educable mentally impaired, and trainable mentally impaired students (3-12 years old). The lack of valid and reliable CRT batteries for meeting the physical education needs of handicapped…

Several techniques have been developed for creating continuous smooth distributions of test norms. This paper describes two studies that explore the behavior of cubic splines in order to determine their appropriateness for use in test norming. The first study uses data from the Curriculum Referenced Tests of Mastery (CRTM) and employs two…

Development of the College Descriptive Index (CDI; Form C) is reported. The CDI is an adjective check list that measures eight dimensions of students' satisfaction with college. The instrument was completed by 601 students at four colleges providing information on satisfaction in each of the eight areas. Scoring procedures and a copy of the…

The Title I Evaluation and Reporting System (TIERS) was developed in order to examine the extent to which Title I (now Chapter 1) is remediating the disadvantages in basic skills of educationally deprived children. TIERS Model A contrasts the achievement of Chapter 1 students to publishers' norms for hypothetically comparable groups of students.…

The use of item banks and item response theory has resulted in new ways to misinterpret and misuse tests through customized, yet standardized, achievement test batteries. The new test batteries create the possibility of serious misunderstandings based on the idea that any subset of items from the pool with a proper range of difficulties will…

Research evidence relating to the utility of the RMC evaluation models of compensatory education employing non-normed tests is examined. The history and evolution of five early models into the current norm-referenced model utilizing a non-normed test (Model A2), non-normed versions of a comparison model (Model B2), and the regression model (Model…

The development and norms for the Intermediate North York Self Concept Inventory for grades two through six and the Primary Self Concept Inventory for grade one are presented. The Intermediate instrument is comprised of 30 items on aspects of student self esteem related to the school environment or the "general self," and with a high…

An overview is presented of the current status of competency testing for teacher certification. The question of the effect of certification tests on the quality of hired teachers is briefly discussed. Statistics are presented on types of tests used by various states, with particular attention to differences in the cut-off scores for passage of a…

A longitudinal study compared the academic abilities of undergraduate women students in seven college programs at a large university. Four questions were posed: (1) What are the academic qualifications of women choosing education as a career? (2) How do these women compare with women choosing other programs? (3) What changes take place in the…

Part of a special issue on adaptive behavior, the article discusses three assessment-related issues: (1) clarity of the construct of adaptive behavior; (2) norm samples for adaptive behavior scales; and (3) predictive validity of adaptive behavior scales. Improvements are noted in the standardization properties of major adaptive behavior scales.…

A study investigated the critical reasoning skills of a group of 111 Australian adult tertiary students who were practicing adult vocational and further education teachers and trainers, using the recently developed Critical Reasoning Test (CRT). It examined some variables that might be expected to affect critical reasoning scores. These tertiary…